The 35-year-old New Zealand international is set to replace ex-England international Paul Mariner as head coach of the MLS club, ending his eight-year stay in the Premier League

EXCLUSIVEBy Rudi Schuller

Ryan Nelsen is set to be announced as the new Toronto FC head coach at a press conference on Tuesday morning, sources have told Goal.com.

The 35-year-old QPR defender had looked set for a role as an assistant or player/coach in the MLS but is now set to take over from former England international Paul Mariner as the club's boss.

Nelsen will be reuniting with club president and general manager Kevin Payne, under whom he played at D.C. United before heading to the Premier League to sign for Blackburn Rovers in 2005.

The New Zealand international, who has no prior coaching experience, would be taking the head coaching position from a man who had just stepped into the role last June. Mariner was hired as TFC's director of player development in January 2011, a role he performed before taking over the coaching reins from Aron Winter.

Nelson will be the eighth head coach in Toronto FC's six-year history.